All posts by Alicia

Samsung Galaxy S 5 Sport For Sprint, For The Active Parent’s Life

August 29, 2014Brand Ambassador, Smartphones, Technology#SprintMom, Samsung Galaxy S5 Sport, smartphone, Sprint Ambassador, Sprint MomAlicia

Samsung Galaxy S 5
Carrier: Sprint
Camera: 16-megapixel
Processor: 2.5GHz quad-core
Display: 5.1-inches

I hesitated to put this in writing but here goes.. my 40th birthday is in October. I didn’t think that turning 40 was going to be a big deal – until a few weeks ago when I realized my birthday was just a couple of months away and I am turning 40! Before I explain how this milestone makes me feel, you should know that I am not a fan of resolutions. I never make them. I consider myself to be a realist and I don’t believe in making resolutions because I don’t feel like they’re realistic and I don’t commit to something I don’t intend on following through with 100% and I know better than to commit to working out everyday or losing 30 pounds in two months. Not going to happen.

That being said, I’m beginning to think that turning 40 could spark some life changes. I won’t go into detail on what those changes would be because I will be the first to admit that I am SCARED of being held accountable for something I say I’m going to do and not following through with it. I’ll just say that the Samsung Galaxy S 5 Sport and a new pair of sneakers may be playing a part in those changes. Well actually, they already are.

The Samsung Galaxy S 5 Sport is possibly the best Galaxy yet with refinements including a more-responsive 16-megapixel camera with simplified access to controls and filters, a battery built to survive long hikes, power outages, or nights in the baby’s room, and a brilliant display that allows for great visibility even in the sun.

I have been using the Samsung Galaxy S 5 Sport for a few weeks and I am very impressed with the unique built-in health features/apps that Sprint is excited to be able to share with its customers through collaboration with Samsung Telecommunications and health and fitness market leaders Under Armour and MapMyFitness as well as its incredible camera.

As a Sprint Ambassador, I was given the opportunity to test the Samsung Galaxy S 5 Sport. Designed with fitness in mind, the Galaxy S 5 combines a rugged but classy exterior, long battery life, an awesome 5.1-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display, physical buttons, and native fitness apps to support your health and fitness goals.

Apps and Features for the Health & Fitness Minded

The Galaxy S 5 Sport combines Samsung’s S Health app, Under Armor’s MapMyFitness and Sprint’s new Fit Live service to promote good health. An Activity Zone app also offers quick access to features like a compass and stopwatch. Sprint includes a 12-month subscription to MapMyFitness MVP and six months of free Spotify Premium.

MapMyFitness comes in handy for cycling. Using the app, my son could see how many calories he burned during a ride. The S 5’s ‘S Health’ app has a heart rate monitor and stress monitor. The stress monitor has been great for giving my kids a visual representation, besides my bright red nose, when they are stressing me out. Through the app, I can show the kids when my heart rate is elevated and then they know it’s time to chill out. Having a visual of the difference between mom when she’s not stressed and mom when she is stressed has definitely had an impact.

Samsung Galaxy S 5 Sport Design

The Samsung Galaxy S 5 Sport is 5.7 inches x 2.9 inches, weighs 5.6 ounces and sports an impressive 5.1-inch Full HD Super AMOLED® display. I’m a shorty so I have small hands and can comfortably use the Galaxy S 5 Sport with one hand. There is actually a One-handed operation setting in the Settings app that allows me to toggle the function on and off easily. If you’re prone to dropping phones, you’ll love the textured, rubberized body of the Galaxy S 5 Sport. The physical navigation buttons, multi-tasking, home, and back, make switching between apps and browsing the internet so much easier than on some mobile devices. I had to invest in a pair of smartphone gloves a couple of years ago, in order to use my old device while wearing gloves in the winter but the Galaxy S 5’s physical navigation buttons do away with the need for gloves. IP67 water and dust resistant, the S 5 Sport lets paparazzi-like parents (that’s you and I) take photos of our kids while at the beach, pool, or lake, without having to worry about the occasional splash or drop into the water.

Speaking of photos… Paparazzi-parents need lots of storage space on their smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy S 5 Sport comes with 16GB internal memory and has a MicroSD card slot that supports up to 128GB. I’ll never have to worry about running out of space while shooting video at my son’s lacrosse game or my daughter’s ballet recital again! A lot of people don’t take advantage of the SD card slot on smartphones but they should! You can buy an SD card almost anywhere and just slide it in the slot and wahlah, your phone has tons of space!

The 3.5mm stereo headset jack is standard so you can continue to use your favorite earbuds or headphones. I’ve been using a wireless Bluetooth headset to listen to music and audiobooks on my Galaxy S 5 Sport.

Color options are Electric Blue and Cherry Red. I am not a huge fan of bright colors but the Electric Blue has grown on me. The default keyboard has numbers at the top so I don’t have to click a shift-type button before entering numbers, great for my crazy passwords that are made up of capital letters, numbers and symbols. No more going back and forth between letter, number, and symbol screens.

Samsung Galaxy S 5 Sport Camera

Taking photos of the kids, flowers, and the puppy has never been so fun! The Galaxy S 5 Sport’s camera is a winner. The controls are responsive and images are sharp, clear, and natural looking. The camera shutter is very fast so I can take even more photos of the kids!

Shooting photos of the kids in dim light or bright sunlight on a smartphone can be cumbersome but the HDR (high dynamic range) mode spiffs up photos in these situations without any extra work on the user’s part. Taking a photo in HDR mode on the Galaxy S 5 Sport doesn’t cause a lag like some smartphones. The Galaxy S 5 Sport takes less than a fraction of a second to snap a great quality photo but if you’re not sure you want to use the storage space on your phone for HDR photos, it shows you a preview of what a photo will look like in HDR mode before you shoot.

The “gear” icon on the top left of the viewfinder opens a 27-button menu of image-quality settings, while the Mode button takes you to a half-dozen effects with the ability to download even more including ‘Animated Photo’ and ‘Sound & Shot’.

The camera mode I had the most fun with, although not always consistent in result, is Shot and More. This mode takes a series of photos a few seconds apart. You can do several things in this mode. My favorite Shot & More mode is ‘panning shot’ which is what I used to take the photograph above. Other Shoot & More apps include Best Face, Eraser (erases the photo bombing stranger in the background), and Best Photo (chooses the best photo in a series).

The Galaxy S 5’s ‘Studio’ app gives users access to a a complete photo and video editing suite.

Samsung Galaxy S 5 Specs and Features

Android™ 4.4.2, KitKat
2.5GHz quad-core processor (Qualcomm® Snapdragon® MSM8974AB chipset)
3G/4G LTE mobile hotspot capability supporting up to 10 Wi-Fi® enabled devices simultaneously
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth BT 4.0
Built-in Google Mobile™ wireless services including Google Search™, Gmail™ and Google Maps™
HD Voice, virtually eliminates background noise and sound quality is dramatically enhanced on a call between two Sprint HD Voice-enabled devices on upgraded areas of the Sprint network.
Multi Window allows users to seamlessly toggle between applications without closing a window or opening a new page
NFC (near field communication) allowing the device to read information from everyday objects, such as stickers and posters embedded with NFC chips, or for use as a mobile wallet to make secure purchases.
Sprint Spark, a unique combination of advanced network capabilities built for data delivering peak wireless speeds of 60Mbps today on capable devices.

Below is a demonstration of the Galaxy S 5’s Multi Window funtion

How has the Samsung Galaxy S 5 Sport Helped Me?

Since having the Samsung Galaxy S 5, I have literally spent 60% more time exercising than before. I really calculated it. I was walking once in the morning or evening but now I do both and a little speedier than before because I can listen to music that is super energizing and new to me via Spotify. Sure, I have thousands of songs in my personal music library but it’s different when you hear songs that you haven’t heard before or from way back.. they get the adrenaline pumping! Between Spotify and the fitness apps, I’ve been way more motivated to go for a walk or ride our stationary bike. I, like you, am a busy parent and have a difficult time taking time for myself even when it comes to doing something for my health. The Samsung Galaxy S 5, being an all-in-one device in that it gives me access to thousands of songs, a heart rate monitor, pedometer, and even a sleep tracker makes it easy for me to pick up just this one device and know I’m covered on many different levels. Not to mention the amazing camera… as if I was going to take a selfie while exercising. That’ll be the day. 🙂

Tracking my steps using MapMyFitness and listening to energetic tunes from Spotify get me going on my fitness journey from getting dressed to taking that last sweaty step.

Here are a few more photographs I took with my Samsung Galaxy S 5 Sport

The Samsung Galaxy S 5 Sport has a suggested retail price of $649.99 without a contract. With Sprint Easy Pay, well-qualified buyers can purchase Samsung Galaxy S 5 Sport with $0 down (plus tax) and 24 monthly payments of $27.09. Visit Sprint for more information.

In The Box

Samsung Galaxy S 5 Sport
Standard Lithium Ion Battery
Headset
AC Adapter
USB Cable
Get Started Guide
Important Information Booklet
Wireless Recycling Envelope

Save Money With The Sprint Family Share Pack

Sprint introduces new shared data plans that offer double the high-speed data at the same or lower price as compared to AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. For a Family up to 10 lines, get 20GB of Shared Data and Unlimited Talk & Text for only $100 a month. It really doesn’t matter if your family is 3, 5, or 10 people, you will get at least 20GB of shared data and your monthly charge will be $100.

2014 Toyota Avalon Review – A Radical Drive. A Radical Family Sedan.

August 27, 2014Car ReviewsCar Review, Sedan Review, Toyota AvalonAlicia

MSRP: $31,590 – $39,900
MPG: 21 City / 31 Hwy
ENGINE: 3.5L, V6, 268 HP & Hybrid

Sleek Sedan with Sophisticated Styling

For those of us who remember growing up in the seventies and eighties, family vehicles were decidedly…boxy, for lack of a better word. Toting us around in boxes of the station wagon and minivan variety, our parents marveled at the spacious interiors of those cars. They weren’t particularly concerned with the style of that beloved family vehicle, or the gas mileage for that matter. All parents used to care about was that the car did the job faithfully, carting their kids from soccer practice and ballet rehearsals.

Thinking back upon those vehicles, aren’t you glad we live in “the future” now? Consumers have demanded the best of everything, and we have received it with vehicles like the 2014 Toyota Avalon. This family car lords it over its boxy, gas-guzzling predecessors with style. Speaking of style, the Avalon comes standard with leather upholstery, which critics can’t help but mention in almost every review. Seating five, the Toyota Avalon is fully equipped to take its place as one of the most popular cars on the market. Toyota has created a vehicle that appeals to both parents and kids alike.

In addition, the base model—the XLE—boasts a plethora of features that do not come standard in most family cars. The engine, a 3.5L V6 6-speed automatic, provides the pep that parents want in an automobile. For those concerned with safety features, it would take approximately six months to cover all of the Avalon’s safety features in great detail. Well, maybe not six months, but definitely a long time! Here’s a quick overview of the braking system alone, complete with acronyms.

Brakes:

Traction Control (TRAC)
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD)
Smart Stop Technology (SST)
Brake Assist (BA)

Feel safe? You should. The Avalon also boasts a whopping ten airbags, as well as nifty features such as whiplash-reducing seats, a back-up camera, and Daytime Running Lights.

With so many parents and kids concerned about the environment nowadays, it’s worthwhile to note that the Toyota Avalon turns out a decent mpg of 21(city) and 31(hwy). The hybrid model does even better, with 40(city) and 39(highway), but of course the 2.5L 4-cylinder hybrid engine is smaller than the XLE’s.

For such a versatile vehicle, the Avalon is also well-priced. The models and starting MSRP are as follows:

XLE: $31,340
XLE Premium: $33,195
XLE Touring: $35,000
Limited: $39,650
Hybrid XLE Premium: $35,555
Hybrid XLE Touring: $36,750
Hybrid Limited: $41,400

Now for the important question: what’s in it for the kids?

Our children are as discriminating as we are when it comes to entertainment. Luckily for them, even the base model comes complete with the Entune App Suite, in addition to a touchscreen CD player. A free ninety-day trial of Sirius Satellite Radio also comes with the vehicle. Kids will enjoy the roomy interior, the futuristic Entune display, and the fact that Mom and Dad are driving a cool car. The quiet cabin of the Avalon will almost certainly lull them to sleep, which provides a nice break for parents who have grown weary from the familiar refrain of “Are we there yet?” We drove the Avalon on a wonderfully peaceful 5 hour road trip (10 hours total) during our week long test-drive of the Avalon and didn’t hear a single complaint from the two eight year old’s in the back seat. Granted, they slept over half of the drive… need I say more?

For the adults, the hands-free options make life easier when commuting. The 17-inch alloy wheels also complement the car, adding to the sleek factor.

There are some really impressive features built into the 2014 Toyota Avalon, but none of them rival the standout performance of the well-crafted engines, in conjunction with the well-tuned suspension and the ability to stop on a dime. This family vehicle is one that performs its job exceedingly well while maintaining a high level of safety. What more could one ask for in a family car?

The Avalon leads the pack of new vehicles that suggest to us that maybe we can have it all! If you’re looking for a smaller hybrid, check out our review of the Toyota Prius C, a hybrid hatchback.

Watch A Boy’s Amazing Reaction To A Horrible Birthday Present And What Comes Next

August 26, 2014Not A Perfect Parent Series'Not A Perfect Parent' Series, kidsAlicia

My son’s birthday is this Friday and we haven’t bought his gift(s) yet. My husband and I will scramble to the stores Thursday while he’s at school I’m sure. Lucky for us, he doesn’t have a long wish list. He’s turning 15 years old and I think he has realized in the last couple of years that anything new he acquires is something else he has to keep up with or keep clean and put away. If only my husband would figure that out! 😉 For his 15th birthday, Sebastian would be happy with a hard shell case for his new Chromebook, a new longboarding helmet, and backpacking and camping gear. He’s pretty easy.

That said, I’m not sure Sebastian would react so gracefully as the young boy below did, if we were to give him a chopping block for his birthday. Watch the video to see what I’m talking about then read on. If you don’t speak spanish, don’t worry about the language barrier, it’s the expressions that are important to watch.

It appears that the boy in the video below has been taught to be:

grateful
gracious
un-entitled
positive
easy going

See more posts in my Not a Perfect Parent series

Aren’t these qualities we’d all like to see in our children?

What’s the deal?

Why are our kids not growing up feeling grateful and positive but instead entitled?

Is it our fault?

Are we like that too and just don’t see it in ourselves?

I have so many questions because this is something that frustrates me a lot.

How would your child react if he/she got a chopping block for their birthday?

I’m pretty sure Madelyn would break down in tears on the spot.

Sebastian on the other hand, would probably try to make the best of it. He’d carve something out of it.

Perhaps a wish list for next year’s birthday so he doesn’t get a chopping block again?

I am not a perfect parent, thus the title of this series, and I am well aware that my kids’ generation has grown up feeling entitled and ungrateful and I’d like for that to change.

Share your thoughts on this post and video in the comments below.

– Alicia

Save 20% at Slightly-Used Children’s Clothing at Schoola.com!

August 15, 2014Kid Styleback to school, coupon code, discount, Schoola, Used Children's ClothesAlicia

What’s hanging in your child’s closet?

My daughter’s closet used to house clothes that she hadn’t worn for two or more years. It’s not because I didn’t want to get rid of them but because my husband didn’t want to part with them. He’s sentimental and does not like to get rid of things. He’s not a hoarder by any means. It’s when I came up with the idea of hanging a few of her infant and toddler dresses on a cute rack on her wall that he was able to pack the rest of her old clothes in a bag to donate them to our local donation center. That was before Schoola.com.

Schoola.com launched during the 2012/2013 school year after Stacey Boyd, a parent, former teacher and school principal, saw how music and art programs in schools helped children who struggled in academic classes.

Today, Schoola.com is 3,000 schools strong. Schoola brings new paints to art classes, new instruments to the orchestra, new books for the libraries. Quality clothes get a second life. Parents help parents. Schools help schools. Schoola makes all this happen by giving children the tools they need to succeed.

The elementary, middle, and high school my kids have attended offer great art and music programs. Every year come back-to-school time, my kids look forward to art and music and sports most of all. I can’t imagine that there are so many kids in the U.S. who, because of lack of funding, are not able to experience the joy and pride and art and music bring to the lives of my kids.

How you can help

Schoola wants to make sure that all schools have the funding they need for these programs and they have created a way for you to not only support programs at your own local schools, but for you to save money on back-to-school shopping as well.

All you have to do to support KIPP Academy is to request a donation bag from Schoola and they will automatically donate $1 to KIPP Academy, just by you requesting the FREE bag. Send your child’s used clothes to Schoola and your child’s school will earn $2 for every $5 made when they sell your donated items.

Through August 20th, you can save 20% on your Schoola.com purchase when you use code BacktoSchoola20 (limit one use per customer)!

Watch the video below to learn about KIPP Academy and your purchases from and donations to Schoola will help fund a music program for the school:

In addition to helping your child’s school, now through August 16th, you can also help KIPP Academy in the Bronx fund their music program through the 20 Days of Schoola program.

Besides the greatness that is helping raise money to fun a school’s art or music program, you can put your child in some adorable, fashion-forward clothes when he or she goes back to school this year!

Here are a few pieces available on Schoola.com today

This post is brought to you by Schoola, the best place to buy discounted kids clothes all while give back to schools in need. Click here to learn more about Schoola. Click here to see what people are saying.

Marriott Rewards® Final ‘Year of Surprises’ Nomination Period – Nominate Someone For a Surprise Party!

August 11, 2014Travelbrand ambassador, Marriott RewardsAlicia

Imagine this..It’s a Tuesday and it’s your 37th birthday. No big deal, right? You pick the kids up from school, run into the store to grab a couple of things, listen to your kids tell you about their day at school in the car.. at the same time, then you pull into the driveway and breathe a sigh of relief because you hope you’re in for a relaxing, hopefully treat-filled evening with your family, and BAM.. confetti hits your face and you hear screams of Happy Birthday! as you walk in the front door. You can’t help but smile and your worries melt away when you see your friends and family there to celebrate your birthday with you.

Surprising people is fun, don’t you agree? Despite that everyday life gets hold of our natural instinct to make people happy, it’s human nature to want to make people happy and surprise them. A surprise doesn’t have to be BIG or expensive to be appreciated but Marriott Rewards® is going big and is giving you and I the opportunity to throw an amazing surprise party for someone special that will be BIG! The last nomination period for Marriott Rewards’ Year of Surprises is happening now through August 31st! There is still time to nominate a special person in your life to win a once in a lifetime surprise party just like four other people already have after having been nominated! Surely, you can think of at least one person who deserves to be celebrated this year?

Did your child graduate college or high school this year? Did a friend return from a tour of duty or beat the odds after a health scare? These are all great reasons to celebrate! Don’t downplay milestones like these and even birthdays. Turning 40, 50, 60+ is a big deal and should be celebrated. Time isn’t indefinite – celebrate life!

Marriott Rewards Surprise Parties

Marriott Rewards has already announced eight winners in the Year of Surprises contest from the first two nomination periods. Four of the winners have already experienced their unique surprise party! You can see all the parties at http://yearofsurprises.com/latest-parties.

While all of the people who have been chosen to have a surprise party hosted for them are amazing, two ‘Year of Surprises’ parties that resonated with me are Super Dad’s Rockin’ Bash and Courtney’s High School Graduation.

Amanda, a mom of two with a 2-year-old daughter who was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia at age 2, nominated her husband, aka “Super Dad”. Bryan left his job to be by his daughter’s side at the hospital for 6 months. Amanda nominated her husband for a party of a lifetime because he is truly a “Super Dad.” For Bryan’s upcoming 30th birthday, Amanda gave her husband the surprise celebration of a lifetime at The Baron’s Theatre at Whiskey Row Lofts in Louisville, KY. The night was filled with performances by Bryan’s favorite musicians, including Jalin Roze and the Violet Knives, face painting and dancing for the kids, and a surprise reunion performance by Bryan with his college band, Modern Silence.

Watch Amanda and Bryan’s story:

Dwayne Stevenson was the first lucky Year of Surprises winner and he chose to throw a surprise graduation party for his eldest son, Courtney at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. Courtney’s family moved from Texas during the middle of his sophomore year of high school, which was a very hard time to leave his friends. Dwayne wanted to throw his son a surprise graduation party to celebrate the important milestone before Courtney heads off to college in the fall. Courtney’s friends and family came from all over the country to celebrate with him.

Watch Courtney’s story:

Why become a Marriott Rewards member?

Marriott Rewards brings memorable experiences to life for its members. Two of my favorite perks of being a Marriott Rewards member is the late check-out and free wi-fi. Read about and watch a video of me explaining what I love about Marriott Rewards! Marriott Rewards is free to join and has no blackout dates*. Members can earn and redeem points at 14 distinct hotel brands with more than 3,800 hotels in 70 countries and territories. Members can also redeem points for frequent flyer miles, cruises, car rentals, merchandise and more.

Voted “Program of the Year” 7 years in a row, Marriott Rewards has maintained excellence in rewarding members with points to redeem for hotel stays, flights, exclusive events and shopping. Through their membership, guests earn status to receive memorable experiences during their hotel stays with benefits such as priority check-in and complimentary room upgrades. For 30 years, the magic of Marriott Rewards has helped travelers create new memories all around the globe.

To enroll in Marriott Rewards and see all the benefits of membership, visit marriott.com/rewards. And don’t forget to visit yearofsurprises.com to nominate a loved one and get upcoming related updates on nomination periods, winner information and latest parties.

*Hotels may limit the number of standard rooms available for redemption on a limited number of days. All Marriott Rewards program terms and conditions apply.

How to nominate someone for a surprise party

Marriott Rewards is looking for the most memorable ideas you can come up with, so go to yearofsurprises.com and nominate your loved one today for a surprise party. Nominations will be reviewed based on creativity/uniqueness of entry, overall appeal of nomination essay, and feasibility of the surprise party. Four winners will be notified in September and parties will be scheduled throughout the remainder of the year. This is the last nomination period for Year of Surprises so enter now! Keep up with all the winners and their stories at yearofsurprises.com. You could be next!

Limit one (1) entry per person/email address per nomination period. Please see the “Nominate” section at yearofsurprises.com for the nomination entry form and requirements. You do not need to be a Marriott Rewards member to submit a nomination, but if your nomination is chosen, you and the nominee will need to enroll at Marriott.com/rewards. For more details on the contest, check out the Year of Surprises official rules at yearofsurprises.com/rules.